Appeal to all, but especially Cubans and Cuban Americans: Show your solidarity on January 3rd in Washington DC for Iranian protesters

 “The solidarity of the shaken can say ‘no’ to the measures of mobilization that make the state of war permanent. … The solidarity of the shaken is built up in persecution and uncertainty: that is its front line, quiet, without fanfare or sensation even there where this aspect of the ruling Force seeks to seize it.” - Jan Patočka

This appeal is to all, but especially Cubans and Cuban Americans in the Washington DC area.

Protests broke out in Iran on December 28, 2025 over currency devaluation and hyperinflation, but university students on December 30th linked the economic demands to political ones, and the protests have spread nationwide.

The Islamic theocracy has responded with brutal violence visited on the protesters. This is why it is so important to expose their crimes, and demand accountability.

Please come out and show your solidarity on January 3rd in Washington DC at 12 noon, in front of the interest section of  the Islamic Republic of Iran located at 1250 23rd street NW, Washington, DC 20037 for Iranian protesters seeking to restore democracy and the rule of law in Iran.

Their struggle is our struggle. The communist dictatorship in Cuba has been allied with the theocracy in Iran since 1979. 

Cuban and Iranian democrats need to join forces in the struggle for our respective peoples freedom. 

The Center for a Free Cuba is calling for Cubans to show their solidarity.

CFC calls on #Cubans to show solidarity with the brave people of #Iran fighting for #freedom. Nationwide protests have broken out across Iran. https://t.co/Kp36KoBaXG 1/9

— Center for a Free Cuba (@cubacenter) January 1, 2026

Below is a mashup of Patria y Vida and Baraye. These are two protest songs that have shaken tyrants in Havana and Tehran.  

Over 1,100 political prisoners in Cuba today: A brief look at two current Cuban prisoners of conscience

Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.

 

There are over 1,100 political prisoners in Cuba today. The majority were arrested during mass protests across Cuba on July 11, 2021. Others have spent decades behind bars. 

This blog takes a brief look at two Amnesty International prisoners of conscience.

Yesterday marked two years since the start of political show trials against Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, two nonviolent and internationally recognized artivists, which resulted in lengthy and unjust prison sentences for both.

Maykel Castillo  and Luis Manuel in show trial footage.

Maykel Castillo Pérez, musician, and two-time Grammy winner, was imprisoned on May 18, 2021. He was put on "trial" after more than a year in prison, and today, despite being innocent, has been locked up for over three years.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a visual artist recognized by Time Magazine as an icon in 2021, was arrested when he tried to go out and join nonviolent protesters on July 11, 2021.  

T @AnamelyRamos Today marks two years since the trial of Maykel Castillo Pérez & Luis Manuel Otero. Maykel is "tried" after more than a year in prison & today he has been locked up for over 3 years, being innocent. @CIDH @UN #FreeMaykelOsorbo #FreeLuisma#FreePoliticalPrisoners https://t.co/HZCLdv9tTZ

— Center for a Free Cuba (@cubacenter) June 1, 2024

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez were unjustly sentenced to five and nine years in prison, respectively on June 24, 2022. Both had remained jailed following their arrests on the dates mentioned above.

Reports smuggled out of Cuban prisons indicate inhumane conditions, and ill treatment of inmates by prison officials.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has been unable to examine prison conditions in Cuba since 1959 with the exception of visits allowed by the Cuban dictatorship in 1988 and 1989.

 

Appeal to all, but especially Cubans and Cuban Americans: Show your solidarity on October 22nd in Washington DC for Iranian protesters

“The solidarity of the shaken can say ‘no’ to the measures of mobilization that make the state of war permanent. … The solidarity of the shaken is built up in persecution and uncertainty: that is its front line, quiet, without fanfare or sensation even there where this aspect of the ruling Force seeks to seize it.” - Jan Patočka

This Saturday (Oct 22) in #DC we will gather from all across the United States to show solidarity with our sisters and brothers in #Iran. 

Meeting point: Washington DC, National Mall (3pm) 

March Destination: White House (5pm) 

Also take action online signing and sharing this petition to  expel Iran's diplomats / demand that political prisoners be freed. https://www.change.org/p/g7-leaders-expel-iran-s-diplomats-demand-that-political-prisoners-be-freed

Please share with all your friends‌  #MahsaAmini

This appeal is to all, but especially Cubans and Cuban Americans in the Washington DC area: Please come out and show your solidarity on October 22nd in Washington DC for Iranian protesters seeking to restore democracy and the rule of law in Iran.

Their struggle is our struggle. The communist dictatorship in Cuba has been allied with the theocracy in Iran since 1979. Cuban and Iranian democrats need to join forces in the struggle for our respective peoples freedom. The Center for a Free Cuba called out for Cubans to show their solidarity.

CFC calls on #Cubans to show solidarity with the brave people of #Iran fighting for #freedom. Their protest anthem's gone viral like #PatriaYVida; now its composer's been arrested same as @MaykelOsorbo349. https://t.co/YfCJafS7iI #IranProtests2022 #MahsaAmini #ShervinHajipour 1/3

— Center for a Free Cuba (@cubacenter) October 6, 2022

Anna Mahjar Barducci posted this mashup of Patria y Vida and Baraye. These are two protest songs that have shaken tyrants in Havana and Tehran.

Mashup of Songs Associated with #Iranian, #Cuban Protests: No More Lies, We Want #Freedom! #baraye #PatriaYVida @cubacenter https://t.co/IWye7roQgf

— Anna Mahjar Barducci (@AnnaMahjar) October 19, 2022

Freedom for Patria y Vida's Luis Manuel and Maykel: Jailed Cuban Artists face 7 and 10 years in prison for criticizing dictatorship. Trials start tomorrow.

Freedom  /ˈfrēdəm/ noun: The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government. The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Similar: liberty, liberation,independence, self-government, self-determination,  democracy, individualism, emancipation

Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara go on trial this week.

Freedom is a criminal offense in Cuba. The new penal code in Cuba explicitly punishes the right to speak, or think as one wants if it is critical of the government. The dictatorship in Cuba is a despotic government.

Thousands of Cubans were jailed during and after the nonviolent protests that demanded change in the streets of Cuba between July 11 - 13, 2021. Some protesters were shot by paramilitaries, and the police. Some of the protesters were killed by regime agents. Hundreds have been subjected to political show trials, and sentenced to prison sentences of up to 30 years.

The trials continue.

Two artists, Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, are set to stand trial starting on May 30, 2022.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a visual artist. He was last arrested, and detained on July 11, 2021 before he could join in the 11J protests mentioned above.

Maykel Castillo Pérez is a rap singer who is also known by his artistic name “Osorbo,”  and he has been in pre-trial detention for over a year. He was taken by the political police on May 18, 2021.

On May 17, 2022 Luis Manuel delivered a message from prison. "In an audio recording from his prison cell at Guanajay on May 17, Otero Alcántara said: 'I dream that no Cuban will be the enemy of any other Cuban. Today for these dreams I am ready to sacrifice the artist’s flesh, my artist’s flesh, and my freedom-loving spirit,'" reported PEN International. The full audio message with English subtitles is available below.

The dictatorship's prosecutor has requested that Luis Manuel be sentenced to seven and Maykel Castillo to ten years in prison" on a range of charges related to their participation in a peaceful demonstration and an artistic performance, and their criticism of President Miguel Díaz-Canel", reports Amnesty International.

People of good will are not remaining passive before this injustice. In Miami, Florida friends of Luis Manuel and Maykel plan to gather at 6:00pm at Our Lady of Charity (La Ermita de la Caridad) in a human chain to march to the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in a demonstration of solidarity.

The idea that art must have a political function, and subject to political considerations because "politics is everything" is a Communist concept. Unlike Marxist-Leninists, and other totalitarians I do believe art can be detached from or independent of politics. 

I also believe in freedom, in all its aspects including the arts, and have my entire life, and this encompasses criticizing all governments. This does not mean that I agree or disagree with the critique, but recognize the importance of the freedom to do so.

If you share this principle, then join the friends of Luis Manuel, and Maykel that will be marching from the Ermita to the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora on Monday, May 30, 2022 at 6:00pm.

For Freedom.

Patria y Vida (Homeland and Life)